Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1. V NUSLY GAR COUPLING! No. 404.552. Patented June 4, 1889;

IIIIIIIIIIIIIA 'IIIIIIIIII Arman/[mi 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. V NUSLY GAR COUPLING.

(No Model.)

No. 404,552. Patented June 4, 1889.

ATTOAWEYJ N. PETERS. Flmlo-Ulhographer. Wnxhingwn. 1)v C.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

VINZENT NI ISLY, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

CAR-COU PLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,552, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed March 8, 1889. Serial No. 302,429. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINZENT N USLY, of Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to the class of carcouplings containing a link or pin; and the object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements, which permit an automatic coupling ofthe two cars at the slightest collision, and also permit of coupling cars of different heights.

The invention consists of certain parts, and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described, an d then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the draw-head, with the side plate removed. Fig.4 is a plan View of the same, with the top plate removed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the coupling-pin, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lever for raising the coupling-pin.

The car A, to which the improved car-coupling is applied, is provided on its under side, at each end, with a suitably-constructed bearing B, in which is mounted to slide longitudinally the bar O, supporting at its front end the draw-head D. In the top of the bar O is formed a recess O, and a corresponding recess is formed in the underside of the bottom of the car A. A spring E is placed in the two recesses, and serves to hold the draw-head D in an outermost position, permitting a slight inward motion when the two draw-heads come together.

In the front end of the draw-head D is formed the usual opening F, into which passes one end of the coupling-link G, adapted to be engaged by a coupling-pin H, held to slide vertically in the draw-head D and in an offset D, secured on the top of the latter. Near the lower end of the coupling-pin H, and at the front, is formed a transversely-extending recess H, adapted to be engaged by a slide I,

held to slide horizontally in the top of the draw-head D, directly below the offset D. The slide I has a rearward projection 1, adapted to be engaged by the transverse beam A, secured on the front of the car A, and from each side near the inner end of said projection extends an arm provided with a handle I for conveniently moving said plate by hand whenever desired. A spring J presses against the slide I, so as to hold the latter engaged with the slot H in the pin H, untilthe two draw-heads come together, when the projection I is forced against the transverse beam A and the slide I is moved forward out of contact with the slot H. The couplingpin His then free to drop to engage the entering-link G.

Near the upper end of the pin H are secured the transversely-extending arms H passing through vertical slots D formed in the sides of the offset D and serving to hold the pin Hin the proper position, so that the slot H is always at the front. The arms H are adapted to be engaged by arms K, projecting from the shaft K, extending transversely on the front of the carAand mounted to turn in suitable bearings K fastened 011 the end of the car. On each outer end of the shaft K is hung loosely a lever L, provided with an offset L, adapted to engage a pin K fastened on the shaft K. The lever L always hangs down until the operator takes hold of it and moves it upward, so that the offset L engages the pin K and the shaft K is thus turned. The moment the operator releases thelever L the latter drops down again into its former position irrespective of the position of the shaft K.

On the shaft K is fastened an upwardlyextending arm K adapted to be. locked in place by a lock-plate N, pivoted at N on the front of the car and pivotally connected with a transversely-extending rod N carrying a pin N and mounted to slide transversely in suitable bearings N formed on the end of the car A. On each outer end of the rod N is secured a handle N for conveniently moving said rod N laterally in order to disengage the lock-plate N from the arm K or engage it with the same.

When the operator desires to place the coupling-pin H in position ready for coupling, the

lock-plate N is first thrown into an inclined position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, by moving either handle N laterally. The operator then takes hold of one of the levers L and moves the same upward, so that the projection L engages the pin K until the shaft K is turned, whereby its arms K swing upward and carry the arms 11 of the coupling-pin II upward until the coupling-pin II reaches its uppermost position, and the spring .I forces the slide 1 into contact with the notch H. The slide I thus locks the coupling-pin H in place, and its' projection 1 extends at the rear of the draw-head D in close proximity to the transverse beam A.

\Vhen two draw-heads come together, the link G enters the opening F in the draw-head and the draw-head is moved rearward, so that the projection I presses against the beam A, causing a forward movement of the slide I, which latter disengages the pin II, and said pin is free to drop down. It will be understood that when the coupling-pin H hasbeen raised, as before described, the operator again drops the handles L, so that the arms K assume their lowermost position on top of the draw-head D.

In the bottom of the opening F in the drawhead D is held a link'raising plate O,seeured on a shaft 0, extending transversely in the draw-head D, and provided at each outer end with a handle 0 for conveniently turning said shaft whenever desired, in order to raise and lower the link-lifting plate 0. The linkplate 0 is held in a lowermost position by a spring 0 coiled on one end of the shaft 0 and fastened by one end to the latter and by its other end to the draw-head D or to the bearing of the shaft O. 011 one end of the shaft 0 (see Fig. 3) is secured a crank-arm P, connected by a spring P with an arm Q, fastened on a shaft Q, extending transversely through the draw-head A, directly under the slide 1. On the arm Q is formed a shoulder or offset Q adapted to engage a pin R, held on a plate S, mounted to slide longitudinally on the draw-head D on one side of the same. Against the plate S presses a spring S, held in a suitable recess in the said draw-head.

On each outer end of the shaft Q is secured a crank-arm Q for conveniently turning said shaft Q, so as to cause a swinging motion of the arm Q until the latter, by its shoulder Q engages the pin R. The upward swinging motion of the arm Q causes a similar swinging motion of the crank-arm P, as they are connected by the spring P. The swinging motion of the arm P causes a turning of the shaft 0 and an upward swinging of the link-plate 0, so as to raise or lower the coupling-link G whenever it is desired to couple cars of different heights.

On the outer end of the pin R is secured a handle R for conveniently manipulating the plate S by hand, whenever desired. On the plate S is formed an offset S which projects at the rear end of the draw-head D and is adapted to abut against the transverse beam A when the two draw-heads to be coupled come together.

The operation is as follows: WVhen the coupling-link G is engaged by the pin II and it is desired to couple two cars of different heights, the operator swings the crank-arm Q upward, so that a like motion is impart-ed to the linkplate 0, which engages the under side of the coupling-link G. The latter is thus raised until the desired inclination is reached. \Vhen the crank-arm is moved upward, as before described, the arm Q passes withits shoulder Q over the pin R, so that the latter locks the said arm Q and consequently the linkplate 0 in place. At the same time the projection S on the plate S, on which the said pin R is fastened, extends beyond the rear end of the draw-head, and when the two draw-heads come together the drawhead moves rearward and the projection S abuts against the beam A, so that the plate S is moved forward and the pin R is disengaged from the shoulder Q The springs P and 0 now exert their tension and a downward motion of the link-plate 0 again takes placethat is, after the cars are coupled.

\Vhen itis desired to hold the coupling-pin II in an uppermost position, the operator, after having turned the shaft K, as before described, moves the rod N laterally, so that the lock-plate N assumes a vertical position and passes over the upper end of the arm K. \Vhen the operator now releases his pressure on the lever L, the latter swings downward and the shaft K remains in position, being prevented from turning by the lock-plate N engaging the arm K". W The arms K now hold the pin II in an uppermost position, even if the slide I is disengaged from the notch II, as previously described, when the draw-heads come together.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the draw-head and its notched pin, of a slide having an opening through which the pin passes, and a spring pressing the slide toward the car to bring the front wall of its opening into the notch at the front side of the pin, the rear on d of the slide being adapted to abut against the car and be thrown forward when the drawhead moves rearwardly, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a yielding draw-head, of a link-plate mounted to turn in the draw-head opening and adapted to raise and lower the link, a spring for holding the said link-plate in a lowermost position, an arm for raising said link-plate and provided with a notch, and a pin adapted to engage the said notch to lock the said arm in place, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a yielding draw-head, of a link-plate mounted to turn in the draw-head opening and adapted ITO to raise and lower the link, a spring for holding the said link-plate in a lowermost position, an arm for raising said link-plate and provided with a notch, a pin adapted to engage the said notch to lock the said arm in place, and a yielding plate carrying the said pin, mounted to slide in the draw-head and provided with a projection adapted to engage the car when the draw-head is moved rearward, so as to automatically release the said link-plate, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head provided with an offset having slots, of a pin mounted to slide in the said draw-head and the said offset and provided with arms passing through the said slots, arms adapted to engage the said pin-arms, a shaft mounted to turn on the front of the car and carrying the said arms, and levers held on the said shaft for turning the latter, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head provided with an offset having slots, of a pin mounted to slide in the said draw-head and the said oifset and provided with arms passing through the said slots, arms adapted to engage the said pin-arms, a shaft mounted to turn 011 the front of the car and carrying the said arms, and levers held on the said shaft for turning the latter, each of the said levers being provided with an offset adapted to engage the pin on the said shaft, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head provided with an offset having slots, of a pin mounted to slide in the said draw-head and the said offset and provided with arms passing through the said slots, arms adapted to engage the said pin-arms, a shaft mounted to turn on the front of the car and carrving the said arms, levers held on the said shaft for turning the latter, a verticallyextending arm held on: the said shaft, and a lock-plate pivoted on the front of the car and adapted to engage the said vertical arm, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head provided with an offset having slots, of a pin mounted to slide in the said draw-l1ead and the said offset and provided with arms passing through the said slots,

arms adapted to engage the said pin-arms, a

shaft mounted to turn on the front of the car and carrying the said arms, levers held on the said shaft for turning the latter, a verticallyextending arm held on the said shaft, a lockplate pivoted on the front of the car and adapted to engage the said vertical arm, and

a transversely-extending rod pivotally connected with the said lock-plate, and mounted to slide in bearings on the end of the car, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, and a pin held to slide vertically in the said draw-head and provided near its lower end with a notch, of a slide held to slide horizontally in the said draw-head and adapted to engage the said notch,-,a spring pressing 011 the said slide, and handles extending from the said slide to the outside of the draw-head, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of a link-plate held in the drawhead opening, a spring-pressed shaft carrying the said link-plate, an arm held on the end of the said shaft, a second arm pivoted on the said draw-head and connected by a spring With the said first-named arm, a pin adapted to engage a shoulder on the said second arm, and a yielding plate'carrying the said pin and held to slide transversely in the said draw-head, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of a link-plate held in the drawhead opening, a spring-pressed shaft carrying the said link-plate, an arm held on one end of the said shaft, a second arm pivoted on the said draw-head and connected by a spring with the said first-named arm, a pin adapted to engage a shoulder on the said second arm, a yielding plate carryingthe said pin and held to slide transverselyin the said draw-head, and a projection formed on the said plate and extending to the rear end of the draw-head to engage the car when the draw-heads are pressed together, substantially as shown and described.

11. In acar-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of a link-plate held in the drawhead opening, a spring-pressed shaft carrying the said link-plate, an arm held on one end of the said shaft, a secondarm pivoted on the said draw-head and connected by a" spring with the said first-named arm, a pin adapted to engage a shoulder on the said second arm, a yielding plate carrying the said pin and held to slide longitudinally in the said draw-head, and crank-arms connected with the said second arm for turning the same, substantially as shown and'described;

VIN ZENT NUSLY. Witnesses:

A. E. MEERULL, CHARLES TRAUB.

IIO 

